Cancer Research

News

	Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden honoured for distinguished service to cancer research November 6, 2025 - The Canadian Cancer Research Alliance has awarded Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden the Distinguished Service to Cancer Research Award
	Dr. Michele Ardolino awarded $3M Terry Fox grant to explore new frontiers in cancer immunotherapy October 28, 2025 - A research team led by The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) has been awarded a prestigious Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant to lead groundbreaking research on cancer immunotherapy.
	How a cellular cleanup helps brain cancer hide from the immune system September 17, 2025 - When communication isn’t clear between coworkers in an office, the results can be frustrating. When communication isn’t clear between cells in a body, the results can be deadly. That’s what researchers uncovered in a new study published in Cell ...
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 10 CIHR grants worth more than $7 million July 21, 2025 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded more than $7 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to lead 10 cutting-edge research projects.
	Stressed about surgery? So is your immune system. June 11, 2025 - New research is shedding light on how surgery stresses and temporarily weakens the immune system – a phenomenon that increases the risk of infections in the postoperative period and may contribute to cancer coming back after surgery.
	Cracking cancer's code: Researchers find new way to slow ovarian tumour growth in mice May 23, 2025 - A new study published in Oncogene has uncovered a survival tactic of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) in mice: the suppression of Lats1 and Lats2, two genes that are essential for regulating cell growth and tumour formation.
	The McPeak-Sirois Group and The Ottawa Hospital partner to improve access to breast cancer clinical trials in Outaouais and Eastern Ontario May 1, 2025 - The McPeak-Sirois Group, a clinical research consortium in breast cancer, and The Ottawa Hospital are proud to announce a collaboration that will make it easier for people living in Outaouais and Eastern Ontario to access breast cancer clinical ...
	Ontario’s biomanufacturing sector gets $45M boost from province April 25, 2025 - Ontario’s life sciences sector is getting a boost from the Government of Ontario’s $45 million investment in biomanufacturing infrastructure through the Canadian Biomanufacturing Cooperative, which forms part of the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness ...
	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded $3.9M from BioCanRx to develop new cancer immunotherapies April 9, 2025 - Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded $3.9 million from BioCanRx to develop cutting-edge biotherapeutics that harness the immune system to fight cancer.
	Synthetic biology startup raises US$ 2M March 14, 2025 - Esphera SynBio, a startup company founded by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa and McMaster University, has secured US$ 2 million in seed funding to support the development of personalized cancer vaccines.

2025
March 5, 2025 -	Network offers molecular testing of biliary tract cancers across Canada
March 3, 2025 -	ELEVATE seed grants help researchers at The Ottawa Hospital launch new ideas and collaborations
February 20, 2025 -	By thinking differently, this research team is improving the lives of people with cancer
February 3, 2025 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 16 CIHR grants worth more than $8 million
2024
December 6, 2024 -	Researchers create tiny “mobile pharmacy” to fight cancer
November 27, 2024 -	Hormone therapy after prostate cancer surgery improves survival for some patients
November 5, 2024 -	New solutions needed to reduce blood loss during bladder removal surgery
October 30, 2024 -	The Ottawa Hospital’s Dr. Rebecca Auer named as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women
October 9, 2024 -	Drug shows promise for treating cancer-related weight loss
September 26, 2024 -	Tumour engineering could provide a powerful new approach to make more cancer patients eligible for targeted immunotherapies
September 20, 2024 -	Earlier use of bone-strengthening agents could benefit people with prostate cancer
September 4, 2024 -	Dr. John Bell awarded Lifetime Contribution Prize from the Canadian Cancer Society
July 18, 2024 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 14 CIHR grants worth more than $10 million
July 5, 2024 -	New research reveals how immunotherapy drugs and viruses can work together to kill cancer cells
June 18, 2024 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded three grants for high risk, high reward and interdisciplinary research
May 6, 2024 -	The Ottawa Hospital’s new campus to become a hub for biotherapeutics research and manufacturing thanks to $59M grant
April 26, 2024 -	Breast cancer rates rising among Canadian women in their 20s, 30s and 40s
April 2, 2024 -	The Ottawa Hospital appoints new leader for research and innovation
February 23, 2024 -	Reinvigorating immunotherapy: clinical trial provides new hope for lung cancer patients
February 21, 2024 -	ELEVATE seed grants to help researchers at The Ottawa Hospital improve treatment for inflammatory and immune conditions
February 14, 2024 -	MS drug boosts cancer-fighting virus in lab models
February 14, 2024 -	Researchers develop “field guide” to 22 ovarian cancer mouse models
January 26, 2024 -	New scientist profile: Dr. David Cook surveys cellular diversity in ovarian cancer to find better treatments
January 4, 2024 -	Immunotherapy improves survival with mesothelioma lung cancer
2023
December 15, 2023 -	A promising treatment for terminal cancer patients may be just the beginning
December 15, 2023 -	A passion for medicine sparked by a grandmother and Star Trek
November 9, 2023 -	Catching cancer at its sneakiest moment
November 2, 2023 -	Beyond the spike: novel COVID vaccine candidate targets 7 viral proteins for strong immune response
October 26, 2023 -	Capturing immunotherapy response in a blood drop
October 13, 2023 -	Clinical trial drug could boost cancer-fighting viruses
September 18, 2023 -	Meet Dr. Natasha Kekre, The Ottawa Hospital’s new Research Chair in Advanced Stem Cell Therapy
August 18, 2023 -	Ottawa scientist spearheads groundbreaking cancer treatments
August 4, 2023 -	Breast cancer screening before age 50 linked with better survival
July 21, 2023 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 CIHR grants worth more than $7 million
June 2, 2023 -	Next-generation cancer-fighting viruses could be fine-tuned with a pill
May 26, 2023 -	2,000 Ottawa participants recruited to breast cancer screening study
April 18, 2023 -	Greener lab research: our cancer researchers are leading the way
April 13, 2023 -	Bringing cellular immunotherapy to solid tumours: made-in-Canada approach to be pioneered in biliary tract cancers thanks to $7.4M grant
April 5, 2023 -	From a project to a platform: A new and less expensive way to deliver immunotherapy
April 2, 2023 -	Stem cell treatment banishes disease for MS patient
April 2, 2023 -	After 18 years with MS—“I really feel like I’m cured.”
March 15, 2023 -	Dr. Natasha Kekre wins national recognition for early career success
February 16, 2023 -	Potential colorectal cancer treatment combines immunotherapy and viral therapy in a powerful new way
February 3, 2023 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 15 CIHR grants worth more than $8.4 million
February 1, 2023 -	ELEVATE seed grants to help researchers at The Ottawa Hospital develop better treatments and improve patient care
January 26, 2023 -	Meet Dr. Natasha Kekre
January 19, 2023 -	Made-in-Canada approach enhancing access to groundbreaking CAR-T cancer therapy
January 11, 2023 -	Outside-the-box thinking saves young man with colorectal cancer
January 11, 2023 -	People with lived experience of cancer are bringing crucial insights to studies
January 11, 2023 -	CAR-T clinical trial provides ‘one last shot’ for leukemia patient
2022
December 8, 2022 -	Canadian-Led Immunotherapies in Cancer (CLIC) program inspires innovative CAR-T trial in Denmark
November 15, 2022 -	Cannabis smokers show higher rates of emphysema, airway diseases than cigarette smokers
November 2, 2022 -	Fireflies help researcher shine a light on COVID-19
October 20, 2022 -	Bench to bedside: the quest to prevent cancer from coming back after surgery
October 13, 2022 -	Novel DNA-targeting drug shows activity in patients with breast, ovarian cancer
October 5, 2022 -	Tweaking the ovary’s immune system may help prevent ovarian cancer
October 5, 2022 -	New scientist profile: Dr. Nicola Schieda aims to improve imaging diagnosis of prostate, kidney cancers
October 4, 2022 -	A conversation with stem cell pioneer Dr. Harold Atkins
September 1, 2022 -	Arginine supplement prevents cancer spread after surgery in mice, but more research in humans is required
September 1, 2022 -	MS stem cell transplant gives priceless second chance
August 18, 2022 -	Anti-fungal drug shows promise against COVID-19 in lab studies
August 10, 2022 -	Study shows annual screening before age 50 leads to lower proportions of advanced breast cancer
July 20, 2022 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded 19 CIHR grants worth more than $12 million
June 17, 2022 -	First made-in-Canada CAR-T cell therapy for cancer shows promise in clinical trial
April 29, 2022 -	Ottawa researchers recognized with international awards for reproductive biology and health
April 13, 2022 -	Kiss of sleep: how blood cancer cells put the immune system’s Natural Killer cells to sleep
April 7, 2022 -	Cancer-fighting viruses soften up their victims before attacking
April 4, 2022 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded five grants for high risk, high reward and interdisciplinary research
March 18, 2022 -	A “smorgasbord” of cancer research, treatment, and life philosophy
March 16, 2022 -	Advancing personalized medicine for breast cancer
January 28, 2022 -	Personalized anti-cancer vaccine shows promise in mice
January 27, 2022 -	Harnessing tumour diversity could improve cancer treatment
January 10, 2022 -	First made-in-Canada CAR-T therapy gives lymphoma patient a third chance
2021
December 17, 2021 -	Cancer clinical trial receives international award from patient-led group
December 13, 2021 -	Made-in-Ottawa vaccine could help in global fight against COVID-19, including new variants
December 9, 2021 -	A patient’s dying wish to move medical science forward
November 23, 2021 -	New commentary finds flaws in study that shaped current breast cancer screening guidelines
November 19, 2021 -	Medicine’s future: living drugs
October 4, 2021 -	Startup company Virica Biotech aims to enhance production of viral medicines
August 17, 2021 -	50 ways to repair an ovary? Study suggests multiple pathways can create stem-like ovarian cells
August 10, 2021 -	Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded eight grants worth $5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
August 9, 2021 -	Researchers work towards the development of targeted therapies for ovarian cancer
July 20, 2021 -	Canadian study finds fewer breast cancers diagnosed between screens when women with dense breasts are offered more frequent mammograms
July 15, 2021 -	How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people with cancer, immune conditions and other populations of interest?
July 15, 2021 -	How well do COVID-19 vaccines work in people with cancer?
June 23, 2021 -	Treatment while waiting for surgery for breast cancer - can it improve surgical outcomes?
June 4, 2021 -	Researchers honoured for outstanding work in anesthesiology, blood disease and cancer
June 1, 2021 -	BRCA mutated pancreatic cancer: A change is coming
May 25, 2021 -	Biotherapeutics: the future of medicine
May 19, 2021 -	Hold the ice: study shows no benefit during kidney cancer surgery
May 12, 2021 -	Harnessing artificial intelligence and nanophotonics to fight ovarian cancer
April 29, 2021 -	Cancer clinical trial team and investigator receive major national honours
April 22, 2021 -	Experts on call: Stem cells, gene therapy and biotherapeutics
April 15, 2021 -	Personalized approach reduces nausea in breast cancer patients
April 5, 2021 -	Translational research grant could help to develop new immunotherapies for leukemia
March 3, 2021 -	Cancer team awarded $5M for cell-based immunotherapy research
February 25, 2021 -	One small step for blood cancer patients, one giant step for Canadian cancer patients of all stripes
2020
December 9, 2020 -	World-first clinical trial aims to protect cancer patients from COVID-19
December 3, 2020 -	Breast cancer patients benefit from Ottawa-based study
November 28, 2020 -	Bone-modulating drugs can be given less often during cancer treatment, reducing side-effects and saving time and money
November 21, 2020 -	Vaccines and viral immunotherapies: unique Canadian program provides training to manufacture biotherapeutics
November 6, 2020 -	$1M grant to support manufacturing of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines at The Ottawa Hospital and uOttawa
October 15, 2020 -	Fewer hospital visits, safer care, less cost: study changing breast cancer treatment around the world
October 9, 2020 -	From “what if” to “what is”
October 1, 2020 -	Unexpected breast cancer diagnosis leads patient down an uncertain path
September 22, 2020 -	The Ottawa Hospital and uOttawa launch new cancer immunotherapy research projects with funding from BioCanRx
September 8, 2020 -	Canadian study compares COVID-19 spit test to traditional swab test
September 7, 2020 -	The Ottawa Hospital awarded six CIHR grants worth $2.6 million
August 26, 2020 -	Virus and targeted drug synergize to fight cancer in mice
July 8, 2020 -	Protecting cancer patients from COVID-19
June 25, 2020 -	Harnessing cancer-fighting viruses to develop a COVID-19 vaccine
June 25, 2020 -	The Ottawa Hospital awarded $4.7 million for COVID-19 research from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
May 21, 2020 -	COVID-19 research on cell therapy, drug screening and marginalized populations funded through Ontario’s Rapid Research Fund
May 8, 2020 -	COVID-19 research moving at ‘lightning speed’, thanks to generous community support
April 29, 2020 -	Researchers and research staff honoured for outstanding work in cancer clinical trials, emergency medicine, cell sorting and tissue collection
April 28, 2020 -	Cancer-killing viruses provide inspiration for COVID-19 vaccine
April 2, 2020 -	Researchers join the fight against COVID-19
March 4, 2020 -	Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden wins uOttawa Award for Excellence in Research
February 20, 2020 -	Could biotherapeutics be the next revolution in cancer treatment?
February 20, 2020 -	Margaret's Gift
January 23, 2020 -	Prostate cancer study means more flexible treatment options for patients
2019
December 3, 2019 -	How often should an incurable cancer be scanned? New evidence-based method shows the way
October 9, 2019 -	“Wild idea” opens possible new frontier for preventing ovarian cancer
September 27, 2019 -	Ottawa a “hotbed of patient partnerships in research”
September 26, 2019 -	From surgery to discovery: innovative tissue collection process to fuel breakthroughs
August 14, 2019 -	The promise of CAR-T therapy for cancer: meta-analysis shows the big picture
July 26, 2019 -	The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 grants worth $11.2 million from Canadian Institutes of Health Research
July 8, 2019 -	Researchers discover new kind of brain tumour
May 29, 2019 -	Researchers get $745,000 boost from NSERC
May 17, 2019 -	$950,000 to help develop stem cell treatments for septic shock, lung injury and muscle degeneration
May 16, 2019 -	Clinical trials offer strong foundation for better patient care
May 1, 2019 -	Precision medicine approach for leukemia awarded $1.5M
April 15, 2019 -	Dr. John Bell wins public and patient engagement award
April 12, 2019 -	Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden receives international award for mentoring the scientists of tomorrow
March 22, 2019 -	Clinicians at The Ottawa Hospital launch 14 innovative projects to improve health-care delivery, thanks to funding from TOHAMO and The Ottawa Hospital’s Research Institute
March 13, 2019 -	Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recommended as a standard of care for certain kinds of MS in the U.S.
March 1, 2019 -	Patients and clinical trial experts key to upcoming made-in-Canada CAR-T clinical trial
February 14, 2019 -	Researchers to advance science and improve health with new CIHR funding
February 4, 2019 -	Every day was a gift for Jillian O’Connor
January 11, 2019 -	Award-winning immunology research shows how cancer surgery paralyzes part of the immune system
2018
November 21, 2018 -	Researchers get $788,000 boost from NSERC
October 22, 2018 -	New drug combination destroys chemo-resistant blood cancer
September 10, 2018 -	Often-overlooked Natural Killer cells may be key to cancer immunotherapy
August 30, 2018 -	Radioactive seeds for breast cancer surgery: better for patients and the health-care system
August 16, 2018 -	Using stem cells to treat brain cancer: pilot study highlights potential new approach
July 11, 2018 -	Estrogen and ovarian cancer: study provides first molecular link
July 11, 2018 -	Researchers uncover possible new mechanism to enhance cancer-killing viruses
June 7, 2018 -	Top Research Papers from The Ottawa Hospital 2015-2017
May 3, 2018 -	Economics professor cancer-free after immunotherapy trial for skin cancer
2017
February 23, 2017 -	Could old drugs target lung cancer in a new way?
February 23, 2017 -	New approach to clinical trials could revolutionize cancer care
2016
September 7, 2016 -	Immediate hormone therapy for prostate cancer is better than delayed: study
2015
September 30, 2015 -	Virus vs. Prostate Cancer: Canadian Researchers Pioneer Next-generation Therapy -- Prostate Cancer Canada and the Movember Foundation partner to make innovative work possible
2014
August 25, 2014 -	Researchers in Ottawa achieve breakthrough with rare disease: Stem cells used to send “stiff person syndrome” into long-term remission
April 2, 2014 -	$1.2M to advance the treatment of pancreatic cancer